Philadelphia erupted in celebration Sunday afternoon after the Eagles stopped the Los Angeles Rams on a critical 4th down in the final seconds of the NFC Divisional Round.
But the cheers might have been even louder the night before, as the Washington Commanders stunned the top-seeded Detroit Lions in a dramatic finish. That victory secured the Eagles a home matchup against the #6 seed Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field this weekend.
Philadelphia enters the NFC Championship as 5.5-point favorites over Washington. The game is scheduled as the earlier of two matchups on Sunday, preceding the AFC showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills.
While Eagles fans are thrilled to see their team in its third NFC Championship game in eight years—having won the previous two in 2017 and 2022—concern lingers over the health of their star quarterback.
Jalen Hurts’ Late-Game Injury Raises Concerns
Jalen Hurts left the game late in the third quarter after landing awkwardly on his knee during a sack by Rams rookie safety Jaylen McCollough.
Following the game, Hurts assured fans he would play on Sunday, though head coach Nick Sirianni was more cautious in his assessment.
The Eagles have yet to release an official injury report—expected on Wednesday—but early indications suggest Hurts will start against the Commanders. Still, doubts remain about his physical condition heading into the game.
Pro Football Doctor David Chao, a respected authority on sports injuries, offered a mixed prognosis for Hurts.
Hurts May Not Be Fully Healthy for NFC Championship Game
Chao analyzed the injury and shared his insights, noting that Hurts appeared to have some sort of support on his knee, though it wasn’t a brace.
“I don’t see structural damage [from the video], I don’t see a PCL [tear],” Chao explained. “Could he have a small meniscus tear the way that he flexed, hyper-flexed? He could.
Is Jalen Hurts playing – 100%. Is the SIC [how injured/healthy a player is] score going to be 100 – no….” According to Chao, Hurts’ score might be closer to 80.
“He’s going to be able to move – is he going to be as dynamic? No….So he can still run, he can still do it, but he did seem to be less fluid, less mobile.”
Chao also noted that the snowy conditions in the second half against the Rams could have contributed to Hurts’ limited mobility. However, it’s likely that the quarterback won’t be as agile or explosive as usual come Sunday.
This limitation was evident late in the Rams game, where the Eagles’ Read Option plays largely stalled after Hurts returned to the field. With his mobility reduced, the team couldn’t rely on his usual dual-threat capabilities.
For a player whose success hinges on his ability to run as well as throw, this is a cause for concern—but not outright panic. Hurts will need to focus on making plays from the pocket and hope that Saquon Barkley delivers another standout performance to support him on Sunday.
